Top lift handle container carrier

Abstract

A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers into a package having sleeve with a retainer portion formed with a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in three longitudinal rows. A plurality of containers are arranged within the sleeve and carried with two handles for supporting the package integrated with the retainer portion and positioned between each longitudinal row of containers. The handles, sleeve and retainer portion are each integrated together to form a single-piece carrier.

I claim:  
     
       1. A device for unitizing a plurality of containers within a sleeve comprising: 
       at least three rows of container receiving openings formed in a retainer portion integrated with the sleeve;  
       two handles integrally formed with the retainer portion, each handle extending from between two rows of container receiving openings so that the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other, each handle extending longitudinally across the retainer portion and perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, each handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein each handle extends longitudinally at least as long as a length of two container receiving openings. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein each handle further comprises a central supporting rib. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein each handle is spaced one container receiving opening from a longitudinal edge of the sleeve. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein each handle extends completely across a longitudinal length of the device. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is closed along two oppositely positioned seams. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the handle is folded in half along two corresponding symmetrical portions to form the two layers of material. 
     
     
       8. A package of a plurality of containers, the package comprising: 
       a retainer portion having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in three longitudinal rows;  
       a plurality of containers arranged in an upper level and a lower level, each container receiving opening of the plurality of container receiving openings engaged with a container in the upper level of the plurality of containers;  
       a handle for supporting the package integrated with the retainer portion and positioned between each two longitudinal rows of containers, the handle integrated with the retainer portion and extending perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, the handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam; and  
       a sleeve portion stretchingly engaged around the plurality of containers, the sleeve portion integrated with the retainer portion to form a single-piece carrier.  
     
     
       9. The package of  claim 8  comprising two handles extending longitudinally across the package and parallel with respect to each other. 
     
     
       10. The package of  claim 9  wherein the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other. 
     
     
       11. The package of  claim 9  wherein the two handles are each spaced one container receiving opening from a respective longitudinal edge of the sleeve. 
     
     
       12. The package of  claim 8  further comprising a tear strip positioned in the carrier sleeve for disassociating one or more containers in the upper level of the plurality of containers from the package. 
     
     
       13. A package of a plurality of containers, the package comprising: 
       a retainer portion having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows;  
       a plurality of containers arranged in an upper level and a lower level, each container receiving opening of the plurality of container receiving openings engaged with a container in the upper level of the plurality of containers;  
       a sleeve portion positioned around the plurality of containers, the sleeve portion integrated with the retainer portion to form a single-piece carrier;  
       a carrier tear line dividing the package into a separable upper level of the plurality of containers; and  
       a handle integrated with the retainer portion and extending perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, the handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam and for supporting the package and the separable upper level of the plurality of containers.  
     
     
       14. A device for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising: 
       a retainer portion having at least three rows of container receiving openings; and  
       two handles integrally formed with the retainer portion, each handle extending from between two rows of container receiving openings so that the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other, each handle extending across a longitudinal length of the device and perpendicularly from between the rows of container receiving openings and in a different plane from the retainer portion, each handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam.  
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14  wherein each handle extends longitudinally at least as long as a length of two container receiving openings. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 14  wherein each handle further comprises a plurality of supporting ribs connecting the handle with respect to the retainer portion. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 14  wherein each handle comprises two layers of material connected across at least one seam. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17  wherein the two layers of material are connected along two seams to form each handle. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 14  wherein each handle extends completely across a longitudinal length of the device. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 14  wherein the container receiving openings are stretchable. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 14  wherein the handle is folded in half along two corresponding symmetrical portions to form the two layers of material.